On my last post, I did the best of 2007 and this list contains the worst films viewed in 2007 via cable and DVD debuts. Did not see any bad films in the theaters this year, I was two for two with both Hairspray and American Gangster receiving passing grades from me!
BORAT - (HBO) - Incredibly overrated and dumb. Sacha Baron Cohen was much better in a supporting role in Talladega Nights. Wonder if he's any good as a supporting player in Sweeney Todd? And can he sing?
LAST KING OF SCOTLAND - (DVD) - Shocking that this bore was critically acclaimed. Forest Whitaker should have gotten a supporting nod, if that, for his performance as Idi Amin. (And category competitor, poor Peter O'Toole lost his one hundredth chance for an Oscar!) The story focused on Scottish doctor,played by James McAvoy of current Atonement fame and the twisted relationship between them. Kerry Washington, once again, guided her male co-star to the Oscar podium (after co-starring as Ray Charles wife in Ray played by Jamie Foxx).
HAPPY FEET - (HBO) - Once the ecological theme kicked in, it was more bearable, but still mostly boring.
SUPERMAN RETURNS - (HBO) - Too long and anticlimactic. Kate Bosworth was good though. Kevin Spacey has fallen so far since his nineties heyday. (View Usual Suspects and American Beauty, if you haven't already)
THE DA VINCI CODE - (STARZ) - Very dull. Tom Hanks worst performance since Turner and Hooch! Thank goodness the sequel is being held up by the writer's strike!
POSEIDON - (HBO) - Where's Shelley Winters when you need her? Very soggy remake.
PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS - (On DVD) - Will Smith received best actor nods from the Golden Globes, The Oscars and Screen Actor Guild Awards for this? Sure, he had a couple of good scenes, but come on! His son, Jaden Christopher Syre Smith's a natural. A rare lackluster performance by Thandie Newton. And furthermore, race was not an issue in 1980's San Francisco?
ZODIAC - (On DVD) - The story of the infamous zodiac killer of 1970's San Francisco (again). It was a long and winding road to the conclusion. Made many 2007's critic's top ten lists, but got the cold shoulder from moviegoers. Wonder why?
FRACTURE - (On DVD) - Anthony Hopkins has been down this road at least a couple of times before as a shady character much smarter than his pursuer. And liked Ryan Gosling better in his Oscar nominated role in Half Nelson.
SNAKES ON A PLANE - (HBO) - The Internet sensation, but theatrical disappointment was never as campy as it should have been. Also, it was never as scary as it could have been. But, it did contain a classic movie line for the ages, delivered naturally by its star, Samuel L. Jackson, "I'm tired of these motherf****** snakes on this motherf****** plane". Genius!

LITTLE CHILDREN - (On DVD) - starring the greatest actress of her generation, the new Kate "The Great" Winslet and Patrick Wilson as unfaithful suburbanites and The Bad News Bears' Jackie Earle Haley (all grownup) as a child sex offender as their very troubled neighbor. Haley was excellent and should have gotten the supporting Oscar for his effectively creepy portrayal over his main competitors, Little Miss Sunshine's foulmouthed Grandpa Alan Arkin (eventual winner) and Dreamgirls' James Brown wannabe, Eddie Murphy (overrated). Wilson was positively dreamy and Winslet (my fave) acted seemingly effortless and superbly (as usual). Very well-written. 









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